Comments on: Dude, Where’s My Electric Mobility?

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sun, 05 May 2013 15:30:00 +0000

I’ve read three studies. Two found that if you run on 100% coal-produced electricity then a bit more CO2 gets created. One found a bit less. Someone would have to dig into the studies to figure out what assumptions were made that created the differences.

Bottom line, for me, there aren’t any 100% coal powered grid. I don’t know of a grid that doesn’t have some renewable or nuclear inputs. That means that you’re pretty much guaranteed that an EV or PHEV will put less CO2 into the environment than a gasmobile.

And it will only get better.

By: Otis11

Otis11 — Sun, 05 May 2013 15:15:00 +0000

First, even if you burn coal, it is still more efficient to run an electric vehicle than a comparable ICE (not sure how hybrids compare – do you know Bob?)

Second, charging during off peak times (night) has an inherent advantage of levelizing demand, so regardless of what power source you are using (FF, Nuclear, Geothermal) you can achieve higher efficiency since you do not have to cycle the plant. (This is why power companies give lower rates at night)

Third, while solar output may decrease at night, demand drops so significantly that Wind makes up for this, meaning the off peak times have the most renewable energy on the grid as a percentage of electricity used.

By the time we have enough EVs on the road to negate even one of these points (by significantly increasing overnight demand), I would suspect that we will have (and in many areas already do have) enough renewables to keep it as the best option.

Sure, EVs aren’t for everyone (yet), but they will be soon. (Just for reference, it doesn’t make sense for me to drive an EV as my average trip is 180+ miles with many extending past the 500 mile mark. But even for me, EVs aren’t that far away…)

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:23:00 +0000

Wrong.

By: JT

JT — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:08:00 +0000

Problem with electric vehicles there still depend upon and rely upon fossil fuels in order to charge the batteries usually at night time.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:52:00 +0000

MSRP for the Chevy Volt is $31,645 after federal subsidies. GM has stated that they are working to bring the cost down $10,000 with the next model.

Even if federal subsidies were to go away people could purchase a Volt in the mid-$20k range, do 85% of their driving with electricity and still have all the range of any gasmobile.

EVs and PHEVs are starting to pour into the market. Essentially every car manufacturer is marketing one or more. And we have brand new companies such as Tesla in the game.

Competition and larger manufacturing volumes will be bringing prices down.

I’d say we’re tipping right now….

By: Otis11

Otis11 — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:43:00 +0000

“tipping point between electric vehicles and gasoline power is still far away in the distance” – It’s much closer than you seem to think… with the Nissan Leaf down to 22K and many others not far behind we have reached parity for many drivers… and with Tesla promising a 200 mile range for ~30k by 2017 as well as the assured advances by the industry majors, this will only grow.

With that, I think it’s arguable that we have already reached the tipping point (or will VERY soon) – it’s now simply a matter of getting over the crest!